EWI vs VYM
iShares MSCI Italy ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, EWI or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EWI led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.7%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | EWI | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.04% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 32 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +14.36% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +26.17%Best | +20.84% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.43%Best | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.73%Best | +12.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.7% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -75.1% | -58.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,617Best | $17,845 |
| Top 10 Weight | 70.7% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 12, 1996 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2006 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.8 years).
EWI vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 19.8 years both funds cover.
EWI vs VYM Performance
iShares MSCI Italy ETF (EWI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EWI returned +26.17% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, EWI is up 14.36% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, EWI compounded at +29.43% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +17.73% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +7.00% annualized vs +0.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.7% compared with 14.5% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -75.1% for EWI and -58.8% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWI charges 0.50% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $4 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EWI currently yields 3.04% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 26 holdings in EWI and 603 in VYM, totalling 99.8% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in EWI and 603 in VYM, against full books of 32 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for EWI (97.4% of the fund), and 2 for EWI that do not appear in VYM (2.8%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWI and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, EWI or VYM?
EWI has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWI or VYM?
Over the past year EWI returned +26.17% vs +20.84% for VYM, so EWI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), EWI annualized +0.72% vs +7.00% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWI or VYM?
EWI has been the more volatile fund at 24.7% annualized versus 14.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: EWI -75.1% vs VYM -58.8%.
Should I hold both EWI and VYM?
EWI and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, EWI or VYM?
EWI yields 3.04% while VYM yields 2.24%, so EWI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than EWI?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. EWI led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.